Seth Kaller, Inc.

Through March 25, 2010  
"Abraham Lincoln-the quintessential westerner-owed much of his national political success to his impact on the eastern state of New York-and, in turn, New York's impact on him. This exhibition of original artifacts, iconic images, and hand-written period documents, many in Lincoln's own hand, will for the first time fully trace the evolution of Lincoln's relationship with the nation's largest and wealthiest state: from the time of his triumphant Cooper Union address here in 1860, to his efforts to hold the Union together in 1861, to the early challenges of recruitment and investment in the Civil War, to the development of new military technologies, and the challenge to civil liberties in time of rebellion. Lincoln's evolving stance on slavery issues alternately pleased and infuriated New Yorkers. African-Americans, many of them veterans of the anti-slavery movement and Underground Railroad activism, saw Lincoln as slow to deal with the numerous slaves escaping during the war. These "contraband" forces clamored to join the Union army which for several years excluded colored troops - be they free men or the newly freed. Meanwhile free black New Yorkers readied volunteer regiments.

New York's role as the Union's prime provider of manpower, treasure, media coverage, image-making, and protest, some of it racist-the 1863 Draft Riots and the robust effort to unseat Lincoln in 1864-will be traced alongside Lincoln's concurrent growth as a leader, writer, symbol of Union and freedom, and ultimately as national martyr. Through all, from political parades to funeral processions, as this show will demonstrate, New York played a surprisingly central role in the Lincoln story-and Lincoln became a leading player in the life of New York. This exhibition commemorates the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial. A catalog has been published to accompany the exhibit."
                [From New-York Historical Society]

Seth Kaller, Inc. is honored to have lent to Lincoln in New York a unique Civil War banner, designed by Emanuel Leutze and manufactured by Tiffany and Company.  The banner commemorates Dix's famous 1861 order: "IF ANYONE ATTEMPTS TO HAUL DOWN THE AMERICAN FLAG, SHOOT HIM ON THE SPOT." It was presented to Dix in 1864 at the New York Sanitary Commission Fair, which supported the Union war effort.

We are also happy to have arranged the loan from a private collector of Lincoln's authorization to General John Dix to suspend habeas corpus and impose martial law in New York. (Dix arrived just after the draft riots ended.  He kept this authority "in his pocket," and it wasn't known to historians until Dix's family sold it only a few years ago.

Finally, we are proud to have acquired for the Gilder Lehrman Collection on deposit at the New-York Historical Society many of the documents in the exhibit. 

John Brown: The Abolitionist and His Legacy.
Through March 25, 2010

We are proud to have acquired for the Gilder Lehrman Collection on deposit at the New-York Historical Society the documents in the John Brown exhibit.  A highlight of the exhibit is Brown's letter to Mary Stearns, written three days before his execution. He asks to be "spared from having any mock; or hypocritical prayers made over me, when I am publicly murdered: & that my only religious attendants be poor little, dirty, ragged, bare headed & barefooted, Slave Boys; & Girls led by some old gray headed Slave Mother...Farewell. Farewell." 

Other important Lincoln Links

The Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

Mr. Lincoln and New York

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

The National Constitution Center's America I AM: The African American Imprint

"Abraham Lincoln in His Own Words: an Intimate View of Our Greatest President." at the NY Historical Society, New York, NY.

"The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden." at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

"Abraham Lincoln in New York: A Rail Splitter Bicentennial Celebration" at Federal Hall in New York City.